Two Norristown policemen promoted; firefighter sworn in

Sergarent Kenneth Lawless stands proudly in front of Council President Gary Simpson. while his four children Owen, Erin, Keara and Katie hold the Bible and his wife Lori behind them. Tuesday Apr 2, 2013. Photo by Adrianna Hoff / Times Herald Staff.

NORRISTOWN ­­— Two Norristown policemen were promoted Tuesday night at the Norristown council meeting and a Norristown paid firefighter was sworn in.

Norristown Police Corporal Kenneth Lawless was promoted to Sergeant with his children, Owen, Erin, Keara and Katie holding the Bible and his wife, Lori, in attendance. Lawless, 42, started as a patrolman in the Norristown police department 16 years ago in May 1997.

He was promoted to corporal five years ago.

Lawless grew up in Aldan, Delaware County, and graduated from Monsignor Bonner High School in 1989. He earned a criminal justice degree at West Chester University in 1994. Lawless worked for several years as a case worker for MHMR before joining the police department.

Advertisement

With Lawless’s promotion to Sergeant there will be four sergeants in the Norristown police department.

Norristown Police Detective Eric Gergel Sr. was promoted to Corporal with his wife, Lisa, holding the Bible. Gergel, 42, started as a patrolman in the Norristown police department in April 2003. He was promoted to detective 15 months ago.

Gergel grew up in Upper Merion and graduated from Archbishop Kennedy High School in 1988. He earned an associate degree in criminal justice at Montgomery County Community College in 2012.

With Gergel’s promotion to Corporal there will be nine corporals in the Norristown police department.

Norristown Police Chief Willie Richet said that both policemen were “doing a yeoman’s job” for the police department and richly deserved their promotions.

Firefighter Robert Spitko II was sworn in by Council President Gary Simpson with Spitko’s wife, Kathy, holding the Bible. Spitko, 29, started volunteering for the Norristown fire department at the age of 16. Spitko grew up in Norristown and Lower Providence and graduated from Methacton High School in 2001. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps for four years achieving the rank of Sergeant.

Spitko worked for six years in construction as a heavy equipment operator.

Richet presented two police commendations to Police Patrolman Brian Graham and Corporal David Stowell for the March 21 arrest of one man involved in several armed robberies committed in Norristown and surrounding towns.

In other business, council unanimously approved the transfer of $20,000 from the snow removal fund to the code enforcement budget for a one-week youth work camp program in June. More than 400 youth volunteers will repair, paint and refurbish the homes of poor and elderly Norristown residents.